Cast-in reactor tie rods



June 23, 1959 M. P. SEIDEL EI'AL CAST-IN REACTOR TIE RODS Filed March 8,1955 WITNESSES INVENTORS Q Martin L.Seidel 8 ohn H.Fooks Y 2m 5% NEUnited States Patent CAST-1N REACTOR TIE RODS Martin P. Seidel and JohnH. Fdoks, Sharon, Pa., as-

signors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Application March 8, 1955, Serial No.492,851

8 Claims. (Cl. 336-207) The invention relates generally to reactors and,more particularly, to tie rods for holding the members of reactors inpredetermined relationship.

In order to meet the needs of the trade, reactors have been built higherand higher with the result that it has been difficult to provide tierods of the required length having adequate strength to hold the membersof the reactor in the proper predetermined relationship. Since thereactors have to be built high in the interest of space factor, it isdesirable to get rid of one or both of the concrete plates that areusually employed for supporting and capping the cleats provided for theconductors.

An object of the invention is to provide non-conductive members of therequired length for tying the members of the reactors to one another ina predetermined relationship.

It is also an object of the invention to provide, in conjunction withthe tie rods, reactor members which can be utilized in lifting thereactor to facilitate the erecting of it in the desired location.

Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, inpart, appear hereinafter.

The invention, accordingly, comprises the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope ofthe application which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a reactor with parts cut away toshow an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective showing how the cleats and the membersfor tying the cleats to one another are arranged.

Referring now to the drawing and Fig. l in particular, the reactorillustrated comprises a base 10 supported on a plurality of legs 11. Inthis embodiment of the invention, the base 10 comprises a circular plateor disc of some suitable material, such as reinforced concrete.

In preparing the base 10, openings 12 are provided for a purpose to bedescribed hereinafter. As illustrated in this embodiment, the openings12 in cross-section simulate two truncated cones meeting about themiddle of the reactor base.

The legs 11 may be of any well known construction used in this art. Inthis particular embodiment of the invention, the legs are shown withupper threaded ends 13 embedded in the concrete base. In designing thelegs, it is necessary to make them of adequate size and strength tocarry the load. These reactors are usually quite heavy and are subjectto stresses which necessitate the legs being made quite substantial.

In casting the concrete base 10, the openings 12 will be arranged in acircle a predetermined distance from the center of the base. Thedistance the openings 12 are 2,892,168 Patented June 23, 1959 lCC fromthe center of the base will depend on the size of the cleat it isdesired to employ. The angular spacings of the openings 12 around thecircle will depend on the size of the reactor, and, therefore, thestresses to which the tie rods or members to be described hereinafterwill be subjected.

The cleats 14, which are provided with grooves 15 for receiving theconductor 16 will be of any of the well known designs utilized inbuilding reactors. It is desirable to have these cleats made from somematerial which has substantial shock resistance. Good results have beenobtained by employing porous ceramic materials impregnated with asuitable resin. This greatly increases the shock resistance of theresins. Since impregnated cleats of this type are well known in the art,it will not be necessary to set forth in detail the resins employed.

Considerable success has also been experienced with cleats made fromtransite board which has good insulating characteristics and which maybe readily machined to give the shape and size of cleat required.Further, this material may be machined to provide the grooves for theconductors.

Cleats have also been molded from Fiberglas impregnated with polyesterresins. The molding of cleats has many advantages. It is economical andgives accurate shapes.

The cleats 14 are provided with openings 17 near the outer end. Theseopenings may be of any predetermined shape and will be made large enoughto accommodate a tie member of adequate strength for the particulardesign. As shown in Fig. 2, the cleats 14 are disposed radially on thebase 10, and as the conductors 16 are wound in position, the cleats 14are stacked. In stacking the cleats, care must be taken to align theopenings 17 with the openings 12 in the base member 10. Therefore, whenthe cleats and conductors are finally assembled, the stacking of thecleats, as described, will provide a plurality of openings around thereactor for receiving the tie members.

In practice, after the conductors have been wound in position in thecleats 14, the assembled members clamped between metal plates are dippedin some suitable impregnating varnish. The number of dips in the resinwill depend on the amount of resin it is desirable to apply. Usually twoor three coats is adequate. The varnish is then heated to effectpolymerization or curing. The metal plates are then removed, and thecleats and conductors assembled on'the base with the openings inalignment with the openings 12 in the base. A top disc or cap 18 of amaterial, such as transite board, is then placed on the assembly.Openings 19 are provided in the cap and so located as to align with theopenings in the cleats 14. However, a top disc is not essential. Blankcleats, that is, cleats not grooved may be applied to each stack ofcleats and employed to hold the conductors in place.

In order to tie the base cleats and the top member 18 or blank cleatstogether in a predetermined relationship, non-magnetic U members 20 withopenings or eyes in the arms of the U members 20 are supported on thecap or blank cleats 18, the cleats being the equivalent of the cap. Theeyes or openings provided in the arms of the U members are provided forreceiving hooks or the like for lifting the reactor. Since the U members20 will have to carry the weight of the reactor, they must be made fromsome suitable metallic material having adequate strength. Good resultshave been obtained by using manganese bronze members 20.

After the U members 20 have been supported as shown in alignment withthe openings through the reactor,

filamentary or fibrous members or threads are suspended from the Umembers and depend through the openings to the bottom of the base member10. Glass string has been found very satisfactory for use as a fibrousmember since it has appreciable tensile strength. For some purposes, ithas been found satisfactory to use hemp and synthetic fibers. Otherfibers of this kind are well known in the art and may readily beselected by a designer. The fibers may be supported in any suitablemanner, and it has been found satisfactory merely to loop them over theU members 20. Of course, it is desirable that the fibers be flaredoutwardly or spread in the opening in the interest of greater strengthin the final rods.

After the fibers have been disposed in the openings in the reactor, asuitable resinous material is fiowed into the openings to envelop thefibrous material and fill the opening to give a solid tie member.Usually, the resins are flowed in from the top, and any suitable meansmay be provided for stopping the flow of resin at the bottom of the baseso as to completely fill the opening. A rubber pad compressed by theweight of the structure will close the openings effectively.

In selecting a resin, best results can be obtained by employing a resinthat will wet the fibers and the faces of the cleat defining the openingand also the varnish film that may be in the openings. Good results havebeen obtained using epoxy resins and polyester resins. These epoxyresins are particularly satisfactory since their shrinkage is low. Withcertain epoxy resins, it has been found that the shrinkage is of theorder of three tenths of one percent. This shrinkage may be considerably reduced by admixing with such fillers as silica, alumina,magnesia, or aluminum (powdered). Further, these resins have highadhesion to varnish which is bound to get into the openings through thereactor when it is diped in varnish.

In order to give a better explanation of the epoxy resins that may beutilized, the following details are given. The resinous polymericepoxides, also known as glycidyl polyethers, employed in accordance withthe present invention may be prepared by reacting predetermined amountsof at least one polyhydric phenol and at least one epihalohydrin in analkaline medium. Phenols which are suitable for use in preparing suchresinous polymeric epoxides include those which contain at least twophenolic hydroxy groups per molecule. Polynuclear phenols which havebeen found to be particularly suitable include those wherein the phenolnuclei are joined by car bon bridges, such for example as4,4'-dihydroxy-diphenyldimethyl-methane (referred to hereinafter asbis-phenol A), 4,4-dihydroxy-diphenyl-methane and4,4'-dihydroxy-diphenyl-methane. In admixture with the named polynuclearphenols, use also may be made of those polynuclear phenols wherein thephenol nuclei are joined by sulfur bridges, such for example as4,4-dihydroxy-diphenyl-sulfone.

While it is preferred to use epichlorohydrin as the epihalohydrin in thepreparation of the resinous polymeric epoxide starting materials of thepresent invention, homologues thereof, for example, epibromohydrin andthe like also may be used advantageously.

In the preparation of the resinous polymeric epoxides, aqueous alkali isemployed to combine with the halogen of the epihalohydrin reactant. Theamount of alkali employed should be substantially equivalent to theamount of halogen present and preferably should be employed in an amountsomewhat in excess thereof. Aqueous mixtures of alkali metal hydroxides,such as potassium hydroxide and lithium hydroxide, may be employedalthough it is preferred to use sodium hydroxide since it is relativelyinexpensive.

The resinous polymeric epoxide, or glycidyl polyether of a dihydricphenol, suitable for use in this invention has a 1,2-epoxy equivalencygreater than 1.0. By epoxy 4 equivalency reference is made to theaverage number of 1,2-epoxy groups contained in the average molecule ofthe glycidyl ether. Owing to the method of preparation of the glycidylpolyethers and the fact that they are ordinarily a mixture of chemicalcompounds having somewhat different molecular weights and contain somecompounds wherein the terminal glycidyl radicals are in hydrated form,the epoxy equivalency of the product is not necessarily the integer 2.0.However, in all cases it is a value greater than 1.0. The 1,2-epoxyequivalency of the polyethers is thus a value between 1.0 and 2.0.

It has been found that these resins reinforced with fibrous materials,such as glass string, have a tensile strength of the order of 30,000pounds per square inch compared with 6,000 pounds per square inch forhickory and 10,000 pounds per square inch for micarta, the latter twomaterials having been used heretofore as independent tie rods in thebuilding of reactors.

A resinous material for filling the opening through reactors andenveloping the fibrous materials, such as glass string, which has beenfound satisfactory, comprises a mixture of 30 parts of silica, parts ofliquid epoxy resin and 7 parts of diethylene triamine or triethylenetetramine. The pigment silica is dispersed into or admixed with thevehicle in some well known manner, such as by the use of a dispersionmixer or three roll paint mill. The amine is stirred into the pigmentedresin just prior to use by means of a hand-manipulated paddle ormotor-operated stirrer. The mixture is fluid and will flow readilyenough to penetrate the glass reenforcing string. It has good adhesionto transite and impregnated porcelain cleats. It has also been foundthat the mixture has good pot life and will cold-set in 24 hours at roomtemperature.

It will be readily appreciated that many other resins and cross linkingagents may be utilized. For example, successful results were obtained bythe use of meta phenylene diamine instead of diethylene triamine as wellas combinations of the two. We prefer one part diethylene triamine totwo parts of meta phenylene diamine by weight.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article and differentembodiments of the invention could be made without departing from thescope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a reactor, in combination, a base member, a plurality of cleatscarried by the base member, windings disposed on the cleats and a topcarried by the cleats, the base member, cleats and top all being made ofinsulating material and having aligned openings extending substantiallyvertically therethrough, filamentary members depending through theopenings and a resinous material applied to the filamentary membersbonding the filamentary members to one another and to the base member,cleats and top member thereby tying the base member, cleats and topmember solidly in a predetermined relationship to one another.

2. In a reactor, in combination, a base member, a plurality of cleatscarried by the base member, windings disposed on the cleats and a topcarried by the cleats, the base member, cleats and top all being madefrom insulating material and having aligned openings extendingsubstantially vertically therethrough, a plurality of fibers dependingthrough the openings and a resinous material enveloping the fibersbonding them to one another aud to the base member, cleats and topthereby tying the base member, cleats and top to one another in apredetermined relationship.

3. In a reactor, in combination, a base member, a plurality of cleatscarried by the base member, windings disposed in the cleats and a topmember carried by the cleats, the base member, cleats and top memberbeing made of insulating material and having aligned openings extendingsubstantially vertically therethrough, a nonmagnetic member carried bythe top member, fibers depending from the non-magnetic member throughthe openings and a resinous material flowed into the open ings to bondthe fibers to one another and to the members of the reactor therebytying the base member, cleats, top member and non-magnetic member to oneanother in a predetermined relationship.

4. In a reactor, in combination, a base member, a plurality of cleatscarried by the base member, windings disposed in the cleats and a topcarried by the cleats, the base member, cleats and top all being madefrom insulating material and having substantially aligned openingsextending vertically therethrough, glass fibers depending through theopenings, an epoxy resin applied to the glass fibers enveloping them andbonding them to one another and to the base member, cleats and topthereby tying the base member, cleats and top to one another in apredetermined relationship.

5. In a reactor, in combination, a base member, a plurality of cleatscarried by the base member, windings disposed in the cleats and a topmember carried by the cleats, the base member, cleats and top all beingmade from insulating material and having substantially aligned openingsextending vertically therethrough, nonmagnetic U-shaped members carriedby the top, one U-shaped member being disposed in alignment with each ofthe vertical openings, glass fibers connected to the U-shaped membersand extending into the openings and a resinous bonding materialconsisting of silica, a liquid epoxy resin and diethylene triaminefilling the openings enveloping the glass fibers bonding the fibers toone another and cooperative to tie the base member, cleats and top toone another in a predetermined relationship.

6. In a reactor, in combination, a base member, a plurality of cleatscarried by the base member, windings disposed in the cleats and a topmember disposed above the cleats, the base member, cleats and top memberall being made from insulating material and having substantially alignedopenings extending vertically therethrough, non-magnetic members carriedby the top member, one being disposed in alignment with each opening,glass fibers depending from the non-magnetic members through theopenings, a resinous bonding material applied to the glass fibers in theopenings bonding them to one another and to the cleats, base member andtop member, the glass fibers and resinous material serving to tie thebase member, cleats and top member to one another in a predeterminedrelationship to provide a strong unitary structure, the non-magneticmembers presenting means for engaging the reactor to lift it and move itaround.

7. In a reactor; a base member; a plurality of insulating membersstacked on said base member, each of said insulating members carrying anelectrical winding; a top member; said base member, said insulatingmembers and said top member each having a plurality of holes thereinwhich substantially align from the top to the bottom of said reactor; aplurality of filamentary members extending through said aligned holessubstantially from the bottom to the top of said reactor; and plasticmaterial completely filling said holes and bonding to said filamentarymembers to provide a tie rod for holding said base member, saidinsulating members and said top member in assembled relationship.

8. In a reactor; a plurality of stacked electrical coils, said coilsbeing supported by insulating members, each of said insulating membershaving a plurality of holes therein, said holes in each insulatingmember being sub stantially in alignment with the holes in each other soas to provide a continuous opening through said insulating members;filamentary members located in said continuous opening and extendingsubstantially the entire length of said continuous opening, and plasticmaterial substantially filling said continuous opening and bonding saidfilament members together to provide a tie rod for holding saidinsulating members in stacked relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,579,883 Murray Apr. 6, 1926 2,228,093 Sauer Jan. 7, 1941 2,372,950Holmberg et al Apr. 3, 1945 2,654,142 Horelick Oct. 6, 1953

